Vaughan: Stand by batsmen

Michael Vaughan says England should give their batsmen the chance to redeem themselves in the final Test against Pakistan.

Last Updated: 02/02/12 11:10am

Michael Vaughan: Batsmen should get chance to prove themselves

Michael Vaughan says England should give their batsmen the chance to redeem themselves in the final Test against Pakistan.

England collapsed to 72 all out chasing a victory target of 145 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, after failing to pass 200 in either innings in the first Test.

And the former England captain believes the final, dead rubber gives the current line-up a good chance to prove their worth against the spin of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.

"Personally, I would not change the team," Vaughan told the Sunday Telegraph. "We have seen two embarrassing failures. Give them one more chance knowing a Sri Lanka tour, played in similar conditions, is next on the calendar.

"Dubai is one chance for these players to show they are good enough to get on the plane to Sri Lanka."

Embarrassed

However, he added that at least four of the top six have much to prove on the sub-continent.

"England have been embarrassed on this tour with the bat and you can point the finger at this team and say they don't play cricket in the sub-continent at all well," Vaughan said.

"That is difficult to take as a team which believes it is the best but even top sides lose when they only have two batsmen in the top six playing with authority.

"Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott are the only batsmen who look comfortable but they are not the kind of guys to dominate the game.

"They occupy the crease. The rest of the top six are struggling for technique, judgement, scoring options and, biggest of all, confidence.

Vaughan said captain Andrew Strauss also needs to score some big runs in the third Test in Dubai.

"Andrew Strauss, is in a horrible position and that is a worry. He is such a good leader and a very strong man but now the team have started losing people have begun to look at his form and his average over the last year and a half.

"He needs a score for his peace of mind. When you are still not scoring runs and the team are losing, your confidence goes. He needs runs for his own good."